Features

Roads Australia steps up in policy debate as road construction feels the pinch of the credit squeeze, as Mark Bowmer (RA media director) reports Like all markets around the world, Australia is feeling the effects of the global credit squeeze and its impact on the delivery of major infrastructure projects such as roads. In Sydney, for example, lack of funding (both from government and private sources) is seen as the major stumbling block to the construction of a much-needed eastern extension to Sydney's main

Not long after the recent completion of the successful EastLink project (a 39km motorway providing a vital connection for 1.5 million people in Melbourne, Australia) the Victorian Government has started work on another missing link in Melbourne's freeway network further south with the construction of Peninsula Link. Peninsula Link is a key project in the Victorian Government's AUD$38 billion (US$32 billion) Victorian Transport Plan. With a AUD$750 million (US$630 million) price tag, the project is expected

What can contractors gain from a sustainability strategy and why is it now a vital business imperative? Abigroup, one of Australia's leading and most diverse national contractors, has developed a sustainability strategy suited to its industry, workforce and business. World Highways discusses this and other issues with Sarah Marshall, Abigroup's national environment and sustainability manager. In the past a responsible business was viewed as one that performed strongly within legal boundaries to maximise pro

The Global Financial Crisis (GFC) has drastically changed the way governments and the private sector is prepared to procure vital infrastructure projects, says Philip Davies Governments have responded to the GFC by focusing on long term investment in transport infrastructure and shorter term stimulus packages to kick-start economies. As these projects proceed, the focus will shift to maintaining and achieving maximum benefits from assets and future infrastructure funding. The Public Private Partnership (PP

German company WEIRO has helped to introduce new microsurfacing technology to Estonia to upgrade its roads Estonia's rapidly growing road network requires modern and cost effective road surface rehabilitation technologies. As a result of technological and economical evaluations of the Estonian road network, it has been stated that repairs and upgrading of the existing network will remain the first priority, especially the repair of ruts, which represent a major problem in Estonia. The aim of a trial run of

In Brazil, concrete pavers from Wirtgen are being used to improve sections of the BR-101 highway as well as to construct concrete safety barriers. The use of these machines is of note as it is the first time concrete paving has been used on a federal road in Brazil. The 1st Army Engineering Division of the Brazilian Army is carrying out three of the eight North Eastern sections, as the construction work had to be speeded up project because the road is deemed crucial to the country's economy. Two Wirtgen SP8

Concrete paving machines from Guntert & Zimmerman have been carrying out important surface repair jobs around the world. In Belgium a paver from the firm recently completed a high speed road repair, while at Qatar's New Doha International airport one of the firm's S850 units has carried out a major apron paving contract. The new airport is being designed to cope with large passenger aircraft such as the Airbus A380 and the Sinohydro-Gamuda-WCT joint venture was awarded the contract to build two runways, thr

The latest technology continues to improve the quality of concrete paving while contractors are also benefiting from more adaptable equipment - Mike Woof reports For many concrete paving applications, versatility is required rather than a high production rate. Leading paver manufacturers such as GOMACO, Power Curbers, Terex and Wirtgen all offer high mobility machines that can be adjusted to cope with an array of tasks. For a contractor, the advantage of these smaller pavers is that they can be configured q

The latest compaction technology offers users the benefits of more accurate performance by combining heat detection and compaction metering with GPS In Europe several leading manufacturers now offer more accurate compaction technology, with Ammann, BOMAG, Dynapac and Hamm all having developed advanced control packages. The technologies vary widely but the advantages are broadly similar, with smart compaction allowing the user a greater degree of control over the compaction process and delivering major reduc

The novel EZ Dig Pro system offers real-time depth control for excavators and backhoe loaders. This package is said to provide precise grade control for digging a fixed depth or a slope and it boosts safety as there is no need for anyone going into the excavation to check depth. Applications include use in trenching and drainage ditches along roadways, as well as footings and foundation depths and cut-and-cover applications for a fixed depth for utilities.

GPS systems for machine control can make massive reductions in operating costs for contractors. Using GPS systems for machine control can make massive reductions in operating costs for contractors and the pace of technology improvements from manufacturers has been rapid. This market segment is dominated by Leica Geosystems, Trimble and Topcon, all of which introduced an array of new products earlier this year. Topcon's dozer control system first seen in public at the Intermat show in Paris, offers notable c

Impressive gains have been made in Europe in reducing road deaths, but it is unlikely EU targets will be met as planned. As Portugal prepares to host the 16th International Road Federation (IRF) World Road Meeting next year it can reflect on the impressive gains it has made in cutting road deaths.

One company has produced eight asphalt plants for a major project, and others are introducing new models as Patrick Smith reports Algeria's US$11.2 billion East-West Highway development, the world's largest current highway construction project, forms part of the larger Trans-Maghreb Motorway project, and is scheduled for completion in 2010. It will run for 1,216km, ensuring the link between Annaba in the north-east and Tlemcen in the north-west, passing directly through 24 provinces and linking Algeria to T

With the launch of its innovative D7E diesel-electric bulldozer, Caterpillar has shaken up this traditionally conservative market Only rarely do product innovations come to market that can truly be described as groundbreaking, but Caterpillar's D7E fits that bill. To understand the giant leap that the D7E represents, it is important to recognise Caterpillar's long history in the bulldozer market, which is unmatched by any of its rivals. Caterpillar pioneered the crawler track with founder, Ben Holt, havin

An overcrowded Indian flyover was removed in record time using specialist demolition equipment, as Patrick Smith reports Demolition of the landmark Lalbaug flyover south of central Mumbai has been completed and work on a new bigger bridge has started in India's largest city. Although the 38-year-old Sant Dnyaneshwar (Lalbaug flyover) two-lane, one-way traffic artery was serviceable and used by to 15,000 vehicles/hour, there were daily traffic jams and environmental consequences. Despite the complex and dema